Diagnosis of Salmonella

Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause illness and affects the gastrointestinal tract. The Salmonella bacteria is common in small organisms and can pass in feces among animals and/or people. Salmonella tends to live in the intestinal tract. Some bacterial strains are without symptoms, while others can cause illness. Salmonella spreads from food and lack of appropriate food handling. The bacteria can contaminate meat, poultry and other items.

Symptoms to Diagnose Salmonella

• Symptoms of salmonella tend to occur within a few hours to days after consuming the contaminated food. Many who are infected with salmonella have diarrhea, abdominal cramping, change in body temperature and may even suffer from chills, headaches, nausea and vomiting. Normally symptoms of salmonella disappear within a week.

Physical Exam for Diagnosis

• A physician will conduct a physical exam to determine if the abdomen is tender or swollen. A doctor will probably look for tiny dots that are an indication of salmonella.

Testing to Diagnose Salmonella

• Salmonella can be detected via a stool sample that is collected in a sterile container. If a person has started to recover from salmonella, the stool sample may not test positive for salmonella bacteria. Depending on the severity of symptoms, it may be necessary to test ones blood to see if it has traveled into the bloodstream.

Treating Salmonella

• The medications provided for salmonella usually involve anti-diarrhea medication to help relieve cramping. However, in some cases, it can worsen the diarrhea associated with salmonella. Antibiotics are often used as a treatment to kill the bacteria, especially if salmonella is in the bloodstream.

Salmonella Complications

• The infection with Salmonella can be dangerous if left untreated, especially for those who are young, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems. Those with salmonella who have diarrhea may not recover for several months due to the effect on the gastrointestinal system. Some who have Salmonella can have complications of Reiter's Syndrome which involves joint pain, eye irritation and pain, difficulty urinating and arthritis, which are difficult to treat.

Precautions to Avoid Salmonella

• Salmonella may be avoided by washing food thoroughly and keeping kitchen counters and utensils clean. Washing everything between use will reduce the possibility of spreading the bacteria. Make sure to cook food through to reduce the chance of consuming salmonella.